Where to find a boat I can restore?

[boatbeginner1]

I'm looking for sites or places that I can find a boat to restore. I am a first time restorer with a decent amount of free time. Please help me! I dont want to use eBay or other Auction sites. I have tried Craigslist but it isnt looking too promising. I live just outside of D.C and would not like to travel over 200 miles.

Thanks!

 

[s freud]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Here is a free boat in the area: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/boa/3214686325.html

I live in the area as well and have seen many project boats and freebies, most in better shape than the one above, but for free it looks like it has some character. When I was looking for a boat I just checked craigslist and sorted by my area and pricepoint. Keep at it, there are lots of great projects out there. What specifically are you looking for? In addition to the DC list I would also check Annapolis and Richmond.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

You need to ask around boat dealerships if they know of any marine salvage yards. Check out Lanier Marine Liquidators (aka Lake Lanier Liquidators @ http://www.laniermarine.com/

They're a unique operation. Just make sure that the boat you pour your money, sweat and time will be worth your efforts when you're through. We just so often see people spending small fortunes on little pieces of crap boats that are in zero demand after so much work.

You want to make sure any fiberglass boat doesn't have rotten wooden stringers, and that the plywood under the glass is solid. I especially like the late 70's Sea Ray inboard outboard boats. They can also be re-engined.

Wooden boats can be a complete lifestyle change for a new owner--high maintenance. Our lake is full of old 1956-1960's aluminum fishing boats, as alloy boats never seem to die. Pontoon boats are probably the easiest boats to recondition, with parts and seats readily available.

Any reconditioning should start with the engine, however.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

The first place I would look is at the bank account. Restorations can be easy to THOUSANDS of dollars. It is based on skills (which you can develop), work space, and what type of boat you want. Restoring a tri-hull when you really want a deep V is not practical.

We are coming into the time when people will sell again because they no longer want to store the boat and realized they did not use it!!!! or have given up on the repairs...... a simple I/O can run into the thousands to replace.

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

I looked at the free boat listing and email the owner. To me, the boat looks promising, to other maybe bot. What are everyone elses opinions? Also, I am planning ot go against everyone's opinion and I plan to restore the boat then worry about the engine. I know that the boat will take alot of money and the engine will take more but I would rather get the hull work and interior work done first. The free boat looks like an outboard so I will wires and everything so all I have to do is put it on.

What are some things to look for when I go check out the boat? I know to check rotten stringers and hull damage. How do I check rotten stringers?

Thanks

Also, if anyone has other good sites let me know. I have looked at Lanier but thats a big drive and the boats the im interested in run expensive there and are stripped down to the hull with nothing for a price that i think should have some "goodies."

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

The owner emailed me back. He does not have any specs on the boat. Will this make resale value later on and finding parts for it harder? How can I find out what kind of boat it is?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Here is a free boat in the area: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/boa/3214686325.html

I'd avoid this one ^^^ unless you already own a boat trailer.... And an outboard..... Or it's the greatest looking boat you've ever seen & can't wait to get your hands on IT specifically.....

Spend some time thinking about what kind of a rig you WANT/NEED and keep looking for that boat. Even if it takes you until next summer to find one. If you are considering buying a fiberglass project boat in need of repairs, you want it to be the boat you've always wanted, the boat you need (fishing, cruising, camping, skiing, etc...). When the grinding & fiberglassing starts, not being THE boat for you often causes a project to stall. Esp when you start considering how much $ & time it's going to take to finish a boat that's only worth a portion of the expenses.

Welcome to Iboats...

There are also other places to look:

Your Bulletin Board (WV's BargainMart/Recycler, DC will have a classified newspaper online or at corner/convenience stores)
FreeBoatShopper
Oodle.com
Fiberglassics

Also know that you'll probably at least double the initial estimate of material cost & put in several times over the estimated time required.

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

I do not own a boat trailer. Do I steer away from this boat? I will look at other boats. I am looking for a multi-function boat. I would like to cruise as well as do some fishing.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

The owner emailed me back. He does not have any specs on the boat. Will this make resale value later on and finding parts for it harder? How can I find out what kind of boat it is?

Don't consider resale value in the purchase decision. It is virtually irrelevant. You will have significantly more $ invested then you'll likely recoup upon sale. Not having any info on the hull, indicates that there will be no legal paperwork associated w/ it's purchase. Boat hulls in WV are relatively easy for me to register here compared to other states. The trailer is more difficult. But it is possible w/ only a bill of sale do get both done here. DC area, may be easy, may be hard, may be impossible w/out titles. BTW, some states require separate titles for outboard motors. Even if you know what kind of a boat it is, many of the parts & pieces from a 50+yr old boat will be extremely hard to find.

The Fiberglassic's site has a library w/ hundreds of pix from manufacturer brochures. You may have to spend a great deal of time looking thru them to find a 'close' example. You might find a pix that looks almost, if not exactly, the same. But many small garage shops operated in the 50's & 60's. They might buy a boat on Thurs & by Sunday be pulling fiberglass molds off of the 'original', making a few minor changes (perhaps NO changes) and molding their 'own' fiberglass boat from the purchased pattern boat. Offering them for sale within a week of buying the pattern.

But the iboats & fiberglassing guys really like the 'name this boat' mysteries.

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Ok I will look into the process of getting titles. Will I need a title just to work on the boat before using it? I plan on rebuilding interior and painting, then adding a motor. Then after that, getting titles, and insurance etc.

I will get more pictures from this guy then ask the iboat community! Since I do not have a trailer, would it be worth trying to find one or do I look for other boats and forget about this one?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

You need to address the title requirements for DC 1st. If it's almost impossible to legally register a boat w/ out the title, you don't want to spend any money on it. As you won't even be able to use it, and for sure wouldn't be able to sell it for much. May be no title is 1 of the top reasons this boat's free.....

Same goes for project boat motors. Motors are not inexpensive or cheap to fix, particularly low cost project boat motors. Getting an old outboard to fire & run can be frustrating, and if it won't run, finding a replacement motor inexpensively often means buying another project boat (for it's motor) and using parts & pieces of the 'donor' boat for your current project. Then disposing of it w/ a 'free boat' ad, or hauling it to the dump. And you will likely find yourself shopping for parts & pieces very often once you get the 1st project started, and this leads you to find interesting possibilities for project boats #2 & 3 :facepalm:

Like I said, trailers are much harder to do in WV. Boat & trailer titles & registration are thru the DMV here. In other states it's thru the DNR (Div of Natural Resources) or F&W (Fish & wildlife). May even be boat thru DNR & trailers thru the DMV.....


The titles here are really only to be able to register the boat & trailer and get tags & plates.

This is a link to the DC metro police website.

But you'll have to call, go by & ask questions about buying an untitled boat & getting it legal. I found the DMV here to be MUCH more helpful when I was at the DMV rather then on the phone. And when it isn't a straight forward transfer of title & issuing a new 1, the clerks behind the counter occassionally handled my paperwork differently & asked for info that I was unaware of &/or didn't have. So more then once, it took multiple trips to get both boat & trailer.

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Ok. I will look into that. I live in ca so il get a title for VA.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Virginia GIF handles boat reg & title. Be sure to ask about trailers. I didn't & it was more difficult in WV for trailers then it was for the boats....

The sites I posted above to search for boats, linked to DC searches, but you can reset the location to your zip/city in VA................

Read some resto threads in the Resto Forum, and some Starcraft threads in the SC owners group thread. It may help you narrow down a size & type of boat you're really looking for. The SC site can be accessed thru my Jet signature link.

And you can review specs of boats once you identify a possible purchase. You may need to add for the trailer weight, plus gear & motor weight when looking up how heavy a boat is thru the Iboats spec page. It may not go back far enough for some makes & models. The original boat you asked about is most definitely in the iboats spec list. If you can find it, it may be listed in the Fiberglassics library...

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

I will continue looking into titling. I have viewed many threads an still view them. I am waiting for more pictures veire I do anything else

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

I thought you said you Lived outside of D.C.????

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

I do in northern Virginia

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Ok. I will look into that. I live in ca so il get a title for VA.

What does I live in CA mean??

 

[boatbeginner1]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Sorry! I meant VA

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

Alrighty Then!!!! You had me goin there for a bit!!!!

 

[backlashed]

Re: Where to find a boat I can restore?

What does I live in CA mean??

I think it means he has fat fingers like me....The V is to close to the C on the keyboard